Early works have kicked off at Toowoomba for the construction of Boeing Australia’s new production facility for its MQ-28 Ghost Bat uncrewed combat aircraft.

Wagner Corporation is building the 9000sq m facility on Boeing’s behalf at Toowoomba’s Wellcamp Aerospace and Defence Precinct.

“The groundbreaking of the MQ-28 production facility reinforces Boeing’s confidence in the local defence and aviation industry, and we’re excited about the opportunities that will come from this next exciting step in our partnership with the Queensland Government,” Boeing Global Services – Government Services, Asia Pacific region vice-president Scott Carpendale said.

Following early works, construction of the production and final assembly facility will commence later this year and is expected to be complete by 2027.

Development of the facility will support about 200 construction jobs, and it is expected to create at least 100 highly skilled advanced manufacturing jobs once in production.

Queensland Deputy Premier, Treasurer, and Trade and Investment Minister Cameron Dick said the Ghost Bat project was momentous for Queensland’s future and for Australia’s sovereign capabilities.

“A project of this magnitude firmly establishes Queensland as Australia’s prime location for significant, high-tech, advanced manufacturing projects,” he said.

“The 100 highly skilled operational jobs here in Toowoomba once production commences in 2027 will be in addition to Boeing’s considerable Queensland workforce that currently stands at around 2,400 people.

“It’s estimated the economic benefit to Queensland of this project could be up to $1 billion over 10 years.”

Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE) chief executive officer April Cavanagh said facilities like this in Toowoomba represented an amazing opportunity to diversify the region’s job market and show local students that jobs of the future were available in their backyard.